Gael 💜
@gaelthedev.bsky.social
✦ Solo indie dev making my survival horror game Silent Corruption 👉 VioletBeam.dev
✦ Sharing honest game dev advice from the trenches 👉 Gael.dev
✦ Sharing honest game dev advice from the trenches 👉 Gael.dev
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gael.dev
Join the community!
And get my “Quick GDD” Guide for FREE!
+ honest game dev advice straight into your inbox!
gael.dev/newsletter/
#indiedev #gamedev #indiegamedevelopment
And get my “Quick GDD” Guide for FREE!
+ honest game dev advice straight into your inbox!
gael.dev/newsletter/
#indiedev #gamedev #indiegamedevelopment
Every game dev journey is different, but we all need to learn to understand the big picture.
Games are made up of many parts that must fit together.
The earlier you understand how these connect, the faster you’ll grow.
#indiedev #gamedev #indiegamedev
Games are made up of many parts that must fit together.
The earlier you understand how these connect, the faster you’ll grow.
#indiedev #gamedev #indiegamedev
November 12, 2025 at 2:15 PM
Every game dev journey is different, but we all need to learn to understand the big picture.
Games are made up of many parts that must fit together.
The earlier you understand how these connect, the faster you’ll grow.
#indiedev #gamedev #indiegamedev
Games are made up of many parts that must fit together.
The earlier you understand how these connect, the faster you’ll grow.
#indiedev #gamedev #indiegamedev
When you play a game, someone else already built the systems, balanced the mechanics, and designed the fun.
When you make games, you have to invent those systems yourself.
There’s no linear path. And that’s exactly why it’s so fulfilling.
#indiedev #gamedev #indiegamedev
When you make games, you have to invent those systems yourself.
There’s no linear path. And that’s exactly why it’s so fulfilling.
#indiedev #gamedev #indiegamedev
November 12, 2025 at 11:26 AM
When you play a game, someone else already built the systems, balanced the mechanics, and designed the fun.
When you make games, you have to invent those systems yourself.
There’s no linear path. And that’s exactly why it’s so fulfilling.
#indiedev #gamedev #indiegamedev
When you make games, you have to invent those systems yourself.
There’s no linear path. And that’s exactly why it’s so fulfilling.
#indiedev #gamedev #indiegamedev
Game dev is complex because it brings together so many disciplines: programming, art, animation, music, writing, design...
You’re essentially trying to create an interactive universe from scratch!
That’s not supposed to be simple.
#indiedev #gamedev #indiegamedev
You’re essentially trying to create an interactive universe from scratch!
That’s not supposed to be simple.
#indiedev #gamedev #indiegamedev
November 11, 2025 at 5:31 PM
Game dev is complex because it brings together so many disciplines: programming, art, animation, music, writing, design...
You’re essentially trying to create an interactive universe from scratch!
That’s not supposed to be simple.
#indiedev #gamedev #indiegamedev
You’re essentially trying to create an interactive universe from scratch!
That’s not supposed to be simple.
#indiedev #gamedev #indiegamedev
Many devs give up early because they assume making games is just a matter of following tutorials until something "clicks"
Playing games and making them are two completely different experiences.
There are no fixed rules. You’ll have to find what works for you.
#indiedev #gamedev #indiegamedev
Playing games and making them are two completely different experiences.
There are no fixed rules. You’ll have to find what works for you.
#indiedev #gamedev #indiegamedev
November 11, 2025 at 3:24 PM
Many devs give up early because they assume making games is just a matter of following tutorials until something "clicks"
Playing games and making them are two completely different experiences.
There are no fixed rules. You’ll have to find what works for you.
#indiedev #gamedev #indiegamedev
Playing games and making them are two completely different experiences.
There are no fixed rules. You’ll have to find what works for you.
#indiedev #gamedev #indiegamedev
I’m going to start streaming on Twitch! Haha
You can come hang out right now (or later when you can) here: www.twitch.tv/gaelthedev
See you there!
You can come hang out right now (or later when you can) here: www.twitch.tv/gaelthedev
See you there!
GaelTheDev - Twitch
✦ Solo indie dev making my survival horror game Silent Corruption 👉 VioletBeam.dev✦ Sharing honest game dev advice from the trenches 👉 Gael.dev
www.twitch.tv
November 11, 2025 at 1:54 PM
I’m going to start streaming on Twitch! Haha
You can come hang out right now (or later when you can) here: www.twitch.tv/gaelthedev
See you there!
You can come hang out right now (or later when you can) here: www.twitch.tv/gaelthedev
See you there!
Game development is a creative process, and like any creative craft, there isn’t one single “right” way to do it.
Every developer carves their own path, and that’s what makes it beautiful 💜
#indiedev #gamedev #indiegamedev
Every developer carves their own path, and that’s what makes it beautiful 💜
#indiedev #gamedev #indiegamedev
November 10, 2025 at 7:27 PM
Game development is a creative process, and like any creative craft, there isn’t one single “right” way to do it.
Every developer carves their own path, and that’s what makes it beautiful 💜
#indiedev #gamedev #indiegamedev
Every developer carves their own path, and that’s what makes it beautiful 💜
#indiedev #gamedev #indiegamedev
Game dev is hard… but incredibly rewarding
It takes a lot of time to understand even the simplest things.
If you feel like you “should be further ahead”, that is completely normal.
It’s not just you. This is just how it goes!
#indiedev #gamedev #indiegamedev
It takes a lot of time to understand even the simplest things.
If you feel like you “should be further ahead”, that is completely normal.
It’s not just you. This is just how it goes!
#indiedev #gamedev #indiegamedev
November 10, 2025 at 12:28 PM
Game dev is hard… but incredibly rewarding
It takes a lot of time to understand even the simplest things.
If you feel like you “should be further ahead”, that is completely normal.
It’s not just you. This is just how it goes!
#indiedev #gamedev #indiegamedev
It takes a lot of time to understand even the simplest things.
If you feel like you “should be further ahead”, that is completely normal.
It’s not just you. This is just how it goes!
#indiedev #gamedev #indiegamedev
Celebrate small wins in game dev.
If you only wrote one line of code today, that’s one line that didn’t exist yesterday.
Tiny progress adds up to finished projects.
#indiedev #gamedev #indiegamedev
If you only wrote one line of code today, that’s one line that didn’t exist yesterday.
Tiny progress adds up to finished projects.
#indiedev #gamedev #indiegamedev
November 8, 2025 at 7:32 PM
Celebrate small wins in game dev.
If you only wrote one line of code today, that’s one line that didn’t exist yesterday.
Tiny progress adds up to finished projects.
#indiedev #gamedev #indiegamedev
If you only wrote one line of code today, that’s one line that didn’t exist yesterday.
Tiny progress adds up to finished projects.
#indiedev #gamedev #indiegamedev
Thanks YouTube, it was supposed to be "childhood" but OK 😂
November 8, 2025 at 4:46 PM
Thanks YouTube, it was supposed to be "childhood" but OK 😂
Is YouTube worth doing as a solo dev?
Maybe, but it depends…
youtu.be/faYno3Gn7g0
#indiedev #gamedev #indiegamedeveloper
Maybe, but it depends…
youtu.be/faYno3Gn7g0
#indiedev #gamedev #indiegamedeveloper
On being a game dev YouTuber
YouTube video by Gael 💜
youtu.be
November 8, 2025 at 4:34 PM
Is YouTube worth doing as a solo dev?
Maybe, but it depends…
youtu.be/faYno3Gn7g0
#indiedev #gamedev #indiegamedeveloper
Maybe, but it depends…
youtu.be/faYno3Gn7g0
#indiedev #gamedev #indiegamedeveloper
“Work on it when I have time” is a trap.
You’ll never find time for your game, you have to make it.
Even a few hours a week, protected like gold, will move your game forward.
#indiedev #gamedev #indiegamedev
You’ll never find time for your game, you have to make it.
Even a few hours a week, protected like gold, will move your game forward.
#indiedev #gamedev #indiegamedev
November 8, 2025 at 11:33 AM
“Work on it when I have time” is a trap.
You’ll never find time for your game, you have to make it.
Even a few hours a week, protected like gold, will move your game forward.
#indiedev #gamedev #indiegamedev
You’ll never find time for your game, you have to make it.
Even a few hours a week, protected like gold, will move your game forward.
#indiedev #gamedev #indiegamedev
Last night I deleted ALL my games file by accident. And I didn't have a buck up of most of the files (stuff like art, documents, etc).
Luckily, I could recover most of it with recuva 😵💫
This is your reminder, BACK UP YOUR PROJECT NOW!
#indiedev #gamedev
Luckily, I could recover most of it with recuva 😵💫
This is your reminder, BACK UP YOUR PROJECT NOW!
#indiedev #gamedev
bert from sesame street is wearing a striped shirt and a white scarf around his neck
ALT: bert from sesame street is wearing a striped shirt and a white scarf around his neck
media.tenor.com
November 8, 2025 at 9:05 AM
Forget crunch.
It’s better to work 30 minutes a day on your game than 12 hours once a month.
Consistency builds rhythm, and rhythm builds finished games.
#indiedev #gamedev #indiegamedev
It’s better to work 30 minutes a day on your game than 12 hours once a month.
Consistency builds rhythm, and rhythm builds finished games.
#indiedev #gamedev #indiegamedev
November 7, 2025 at 8:30 PM
Forget crunch.
It’s better to work 30 minutes a day on your game than 12 hours once a month.
Consistency builds rhythm, and rhythm builds finished games.
#indiedev #gamedev #indiegamedev
It’s better to work 30 minutes a day on your game than 12 hours once a month.
Consistency builds rhythm, and rhythm builds finished games.
#indiedev #gamedev #indiegamedev
Your game is like a plant. It doesn’t need a flood once a month, it needs small, regular watering.
A little game dev time every week keeps it alive and growing.
Show up regularly.
#indiedev #gamedev #indiegamedev
A little game dev time every week keeps it alive and growing.
Show up regularly.
#indiedev #gamedev #indiegamedev
November 7, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Your game is like a plant. It doesn’t need a flood once a month, it needs small, regular watering.
A little game dev time every week keeps it alive and growing.
Show up regularly.
#indiedev #gamedev #indiegamedev
A little game dev time every week keeps it alive and growing.
Show up regularly.
#indiedev #gamedev #indiegamedev
Reposted by Gael 💜
Curtains The Clown by @grimclownjay.bsky.social has released!
You can get it for the price of a cup of coffee and it is more than worth it (and I LOVE coffee)
Steam
store.steampowered.com/app/3766820/...
Itch
grimclownjay.itch.io/curtains-the...
#CurtainsTheClown #IndieGame #Recommendation
You can get it for the price of a cup of coffee and it is more than worth it (and I LOVE coffee)
Steam
store.steampowered.com/app/3766820/...
Itch
grimclownjay.itch.io/curtains-the...
#CurtainsTheClown #IndieGame #Recommendation
Curtains The Clown on Steam
Meet Curtains. An exiled alien clown in search of a home. While passing through a distant galaxy, he was forced to land when his ship's fuel cells ran dry. Now stranded in a far away world, Curtains m...
store.steampowered.com
November 7, 2025 at 9:37 AM
Curtains The Clown by @grimclownjay.bsky.social has released!
You can get it for the price of a cup of coffee and it is more than worth it (and I LOVE coffee)
Steam
store.steampowered.com/app/3766820/...
Itch
grimclownjay.itch.io/curtains-the...
#CurtainsTheClown #IndieGame #Recommendation
You can get it for the price of a cup of coffee and it is more than worth it (and I LOVE coffee)
Steam
store.steampowered.com/app/3766820/...
Itch
grimclownjay.itch.io/curtains-the...
#CurtainsTheClown #IndieGame #Recommendation
Your game dev to-do list doesn’t need to be perfect.
It just needs to keep you moving.
Vague and messy is fine at first. Plans evolve as your game does.
#indiedev #gamedev #indiegamedev
It just needs to keep you moving.
Vague and messy is fine at first. Plans evolve as your game does.
#indiedev #gamedev #indiegamedev
November 6, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Your game dev to-do list doesn’t need to be perfect.
It just needs to keep you moving.
Vague and messy is fine at first. Plans evolve as your game does.
#indiedev #gamedev #indiegamedev
It just needs to keep you moving.
Vague and messy is fine at first. Plans evolve as your game does.
#indiedev #gamedev #indiegamedev
Currently playing @againstthestorm.bsky.social
And damn, this game is GOOD!
Check it out, you won't be disappointed 💜
store.steampowered.com/app/1336490/...
#indiegame #gaming
And damn, this game is GOOD!
Check it out, you won't be disappointed 💜
store.steampowered.com/app/1336490/...
#indiegame #gaming
Against the Storm on Steam
A dark fantasy city builder where you must rebuild civilization in the face of apocalyptic rains. As the Queen’s Viceroy, lead humans, beavers, lizards, foxes, and harpies to reclaim the wilderness an...
store.steampowered.com
November 6, 2025 at 1:17 PM
Currently playing @againstthestorm.bsky.social
And damn, this game is GOOD!
Check it out, you won't be disappointed 💜
store.steampowered.com/app/1336490/...
#indiegame #gaming
And damn, this game is GOOD!
Check it out, you won't be disappointed 💜
store.steampowered.com/app/1336490/...
#indiegame #gaming
Don’t overplan your game.
You’ll drive yourself mad trying to predict every detail.
Plan high-level first, then refine as you go. Game dev is creative, not a checklist carved in stone.
#indiedev #gamedev #indiegamedev
You’ll drive yourself mad trying to predict every detail.
Plan high-level first, then refine as you go. Game dev is creative, not a checklist carved in stone.
#indiedev #gamedev #indiegamedev
November 6, 2025 at 11:41 AM
Don’t overplan your game.
You’ll drive yourself mad trying to predict every detail.
Plan high-level first, then refine as you go. Game dev is creative, not a checklist carved in stone.
#indiedev #gamedev #indiegamedev
You’ll drive yourself mad trying to predict every detail.
Plan high-level first, then refine as you go. Game dev is creative, not a checklist carved in stone.
#indiedev #gamedev #indiegamedev
Don’t worry if your game dev goals sound unrealistic.
It’s okay to dream big!
Your goals act as a compass, not a contract.
They remind you what success looks like to YOU, not to punish you for missing it, but to help you steer toward it.
#indiedev #gamedev #indiegamedev
It’s okay to dream big!
Your goals act as a compass, not a contract.
They remind you what success looks like to YOU, not to punish you for missing it, but to help you steer toward it.
#indiedev #gamedev #indiegamedev
November 5, 2025 at 2:29 PM
Don’t worry if your game dev goals sound unrealistic.
It’s okay to dream big!
Your goals act as a compass, not a contract.
They remind you what success looks like to YOU, not to punish you for missing it, but to help you steer toward it.
#indiedev #gamedev #indiegamedev
It’s okay to dream big!
Your goals act as a compass, not a contract.
They remind you what success looks like to YOU, not to punish you for missing it, but to help you steer toward it.
#indiedev #gamedev #indiegamedev
Write your game dev goals by hand first.
There’s power in physically committing your plans to paper.
It turns ideas into something you can see, not just think about.
#indiedev #gamedev #indiegamedev
There’s power in physically committing your plans to paper.
It turns ideas into something you can see, not just think about.
#indiedev #gamedev #indiegamedev
November 5, 2025 at 11:26 AM
Write your game dev goals by hand first.
There’s power in physically committing your plans to paper.
It turns ideas into something you can see, not just think about.
#indiedev #gamedev #indiegamedev
There’s power in physically committing your plans to paper.
It turns ideas into something you can see, not just think about.
#indiedev #gamedev #indiegamedev
Think of early planning as setting your game dev compass, not drawing the whole map.
You’re just pointing yourself in the right direction.
Clarity now prevents chaos later.
#indiedev #gamedev #indiegamedev
You’re just pointing yourself in the right direction.
Clarity now prevents chaos later.
#indiedev #gamedev #indiegamedev
November 4, 2025 at 5:33 PM
Think of early planning as setting your game dev compass, not drawing the whole map.
You’re just pointing yourself in the right direction.
Clarity now prevents chaos later.
#indiedev #gamedev #indiegamedev
You’re just pointing yourself in the right direction.
Clarity now prevents chaos later.
#indiedev #gamedev #indiegamedev
Without clear goals, your game project will wander. And wandering projects rarely finish.
Define what success looks like, even if it feels ambitious or impossible.
A compass is better than a fog.
#indiedev #gamedev #indiegamedev
Define what success looks like, even if it feels ambitious or impossible.
A compass is better than a fog.
#indiedev #gamedev #indiegamedev
November 4, 2025 at 3:33 PM
Without clear goals, your game project will wander. And wandering projects rarely finish.
Define what success looks like, even if it feels ambitious or impossible.
A compass is better than a fog.
#indiedev #gamedev #indiegamedev
Define what success looks like, even if it feels ambitious or impossible.
A compass is better than a fog.
#indiedev #gamedev #indiegamedev
Ask yourself early:
* What can the player do?
* How should they feel?
* What world are they stepping into?
Emotions and actions define engagement far more than mechanics alone in game dev.
#indiedev #gamedev #indiegamedev
* What can the player do?
* How should they feel?
* What world are they stepping into?
Emotions and actions define engagement far more than mechanics alone in game dev.
#indiedev #gamedev #indiegamedev
November 3, 2025 at 7:33 PM
Ask yourself early:
* What can the player do?
* How should they feel?
* What world are they stepping into?
Emotions and actions define engagement far more than mechanics alone in game dev.
#indiedev #gamedev #indiegamedev
* What can the player do?
* How should they feel?
* What world are they stepping into?
Emotions and actions define engagement far more than mechanics alone in game dev.
#indiedev #gamedev #indiegamedev